Suburbanization and Public Health

This article is a summary of research by Dr. Howard Frumkin and published in Public Health Reports. Dr. Frumkin writes on connections between various aspects of suburban development and pollution, mental health, physical fitness, and preventable deaths due to automobile accidents.

The relationship between automobiles and air pollution is discussed first, and this research notes that there is a significant correlation between vehicle miles traveled and proportions of hydrocarbons, oxides, and nitrogen, as well as other greenhouse gasses, in urban atmosphere. It is also noted that due to weather conditions, air pollution does not remain in the immediate vicinity of roads, but can travel downwind of where it is released. The study notes that increased pollution can pose an increased risk to those with asthma, as well as the elderly and newborn.

This study also points out the connection between density and vehicle miles traveled, noting that the less dense a location is, the more driving that will take place and the more pollution that will be created.

The second topic discussed is that of deaths due to automobile crashes and poor accommodations of pedestrians. While it is noted that improvements in vehicle and infrastructure safety have decreased traffic fatalities in recent years, the study points out that typical suburban layouts are highly conducive to automobile traffic while being dangerous to pedestrians. This is due to lack of connected secondary roads and main arteries which can often be three or more lanes in each direction. Proper pedestrian amenities such as sidewalks and crossing lights are not likely to be present, although this is changing.

Again, a correlation is established between low density and traffic deaths, both in cases involving two or more automobiles and in cases involving automobiles and pedestrians.

The next topics discussed are those of land use, travel patterns, and physical activity. The study notes that dense land use is highly correlated with both walking and bicycling, while lower density is correlated with higher automobile use. Similarly, lower automobile use is correlated with higher physical activity, as denser environments increase connectivity and make methods of traveling such as walking and bicycling much more viable.

Access to water is also mentioned in the study, noting that less dense development will contribute highly to water pollution, as paved surfaces such as parking lots will prohibit water from entering the ground and the water table, and will instead force it to pick up pollutants as it runs to storm drains. In addition, this reduction in aquifer capacity will reduce available water for these areas.

The urban heat island is touched upon as well, noting that pavement and dark roofs absorb heat and locally increase temperatures. It is noted that this can lead to increases in cases of heat stroke, heat exhaustion, and other heat related conditions. These can have especially severe effects on the young, elderly, and disabled, who are not as mobile, as well as the impoverished, who may not have access to air conditioning.

Mental health is one of the most drastic aspects of suburbanization that the study goes on to discuss. It notes that increased commuting can lead to elevated stress levels and physical ailments. This can be manifested by “road rage”, in which motorists are inclined to commit violent or threatening acts against other motorists. This can lead to a generally more violent society, as not only does violence becomes an accepted way to deal with stress, but also commuting long distances by car can lead to social isolation.

Degradation of social capital is the last aspect of suburbanization discussed in this study, social capital is the idea that social networks can be used to achieve certain tangible goals, such as employment. The study notes that a correlation has been noticed between suburbanization and decreased social capital, manifested in lack of trust and increased family anguish. It mentions the primary cause of this to be the income segregation of suburban development, but also notes that time spent commuting is time spent away from friends and family and less time to give back to the community, either through PTA meetings, community service, or neighborhood events. Neighborhood design is a large factor in social isolation, as single use development set back from streets and with minimal sidewalk space deters the usage of outdoor space.